Just under three months ago, Aston Villa were winless and sitting third bottom of the Premier League.
Fast forward to today, spearheaded by boss Unai Emery, they hold third place with increasing talk about their involvement in the championship chase.
The weekend's dramatic conclusion against table-toppers Arsenal highlighted their capabilities, with the 2-1 victory marking Emery's 63rd Premier League win – the most in the club's history.
From his 162 games in charge, Emery holds a win rate of 54.94%.
Furthermore, in the current campaign, only Arsenal and Manchester City have accumulated more points (71) than Villa's haul of 67 from 34 outings.
This transformation is especially remarkable given the squad's start to the campaign, which saw them struggling, eliminated of the Carabao Cup, and the final team in the Football League to score a goal.
Questions were asked about Emery's methods after a close-season where recruitment power was limited by financial rules.
What exactly has Emery altered to ignite this comeback? The simple answer is very little.
The workaholic Spaniard has displayed the conviction to adhere to his principles and guide his team through initial problems.
There was a sense that the club was lacking energy, not just in terms of results. The meteoric trajectory under Emery in prior years had raised hopes immensely.
Exhaustion from their journey to the Champions League quarter-finals appeared contagious, impacting both the stands and the pitch.
"I am not thinking about it [the title]," Emery stated after the notable success over Arsenal. "I know 38 matches is incredibly tough. We are not a challenger."
Emery views the training ground at Bodymoor Heath as a sanctuary, with a high level of focus required from everyone.
He has remained steadfast, even as key striker Ollie Watkins struggled for goals early on.
The degree of control he possesses at Villa Park is substantial – a level he lacked during his stints at Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain.
This structure has allowed his detailed methods, from training sessions to video analysis, to stay unchanged and eventually pay dividends.
After adhered to his game plan, the outcomes are now shining through.
Villa have secured victory in nine of their last ten Premier League matches.
A look at their last five top-flight fixtures shows telling improvements:
Although it took Villa time to get going, Unai Emery has demonstrated to be their greatest asset and spearheaded their ascent in genuinely remarkable fashion.
Elara is a seasoned writer and digital storyteller with a passion for exploring diverse literary genres and empowering others through words.
